Remembering Larry Finger, 200 people charged in $2.7B health care fraud, Lessons I Wish I Had Been Taught
Summary of Top HN posts from 06-27-2024
1. Remembering Larry Finger, who made Linux wireless work
Link | Comments: 50 | Points: 462
Article Summary: Larry Finger, a dedicated Linux kernel developer who passed away recently, contributed significantly to the Linux community with 1,464 commits across 94 kernel releases, despite having no formal computer training. His work was crucial in the early 2000s, particularly in improving Linux Wi-Fi compatibility, where he notably enhanced Broadcom and Realtek drivers through reverse engineering. Beyond his technical contributions, Finger mentored others and shared his knowledge on platforms like Quora, emphasizing the accessibility of Linux development to those without a computer science background. His legacy includes not only his code but also his ability to inspire and guide new developers in the Linux community.
Comments Summary: The comment thread shares personal stories and reflections on Larry Finger’s significant contributions to the Linux wireless driver ecosystem. One commenter expresses regret for not thanking Finger personally, highlighting his mentorship and the technical challenges he overcame. Another comment points to an Ars Technica article that praises Finger’s work and mentorship, reinforcing his impact on improving Linux WiFi and supporting the community.
2. 200 people charged in $2.7B health care fraud crackdown
Link | Comments: 155 | Points: 301
Article Summary: The U.S. Justice Department has charged nearly 200 individuals, including 76 medical professionals, in a massive $2.7 billion health care fraud crackdown across the nation. Highlighted in the charges is a $900 million fraud in Arizona, where two company owners allegedly paid kickbacks for unnecessary treatments on hospice patients, some of whom died shortly after receiving care. The accused lived extravagantly off the proceeds, funding luxury lifestyles with items like gold bars and expensive cars, until their recent arrest at an airport, attempting to flee the country. Other fraud cases in the sweep include fake addiction treatment services for Native Americans and a dangerous scam involving mislabeled HIV medication in Florida.
Comments Summary: In the thread, participants discuss the case of Gehrke and King, a married couple implicated in a significant health care fraud scheme, highlighting their apparent preparation to flee justice with incriminating books found at their residence. Commenters express a mix of sarcasm about the couple’s poor planning, skepticism about the effectiveness of the books they possessed, and broader concerns regarding the pervasive issue of corruption in the healthcare industry. They call for stringent penalties for those involved to deter similar crimes in the future, reflecting a general sentiment that this case is just a small glimpse into a much larger problem.
3. A modern 8 bit design, built using 1950s thermionic valves
Link | Comments: 40 | Points: 276
Article Summary: The Valve.Computer is a modern 8-bit computer powered by 1950s thermionic valves, capable of playing PONG and running Fibonacci sequences, despite its high voltage and 200+ Amp current requirements. First operational in May 2021, this glowing, room-heating machine now adorns the study wall, offering both a nostalgic aroma and a visual spectacle as its 560 valves warm up. While it demands caution with its high heat and voltage, the project has been a blend of intense soldering and immense fun for its creator. Safety remains paramount, as evidenced by the ever-ready fire extinguisher nearby.
Comments Summary: In a lively discussion under an article about a modern 8-bit computer built with 1950s technology, enthusiasts share humorous and heartfelt anecdotes. They highlight the quirks of working with valve hardware, such as the necessity of a fire extinguisher for safety and the dramatic power usage, while also touching on the personal joy of having a supportive partner who appreciates your passions.
4. Lessons I Wish I Had Been Taught (1996) [pdf]
Link | Comments: 80 | Points: 271
Article Summary: N/A
Comments Summary: The comment thread highlights the frustration of lectures running overtime, especially when complex topics are rushed at the end. It also delves into humorous and quirky units of measurement like microcenturies and nanoacres, adding a light-hearted element to the discussion.
5. Supreme Court blocks controversial Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
Link | Comments: 547 | Points: 237
Article Summary: The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan that would have shielded the Sackler family, owners of the company, from future opioid lawsuits while providing up to $6 billion over 18 years to combat the opioid crisis. The court ruled that bankruptcy laws do not permit shielding non-filing parties from lawsuits without the consent of affected claimants, a decision that scrambles previous ideological lines among the justices. This ruling reopens negotiations for states and other parties suing Purdue, potentially impacting other major bankruptcy settlements related to the opioid epidemic. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some viewing it as a victory for justice and accountability, while others express concern over the delay in funding for opioid crisis abatement.
Comments Summary: The comment thread reflects intense criticism of the Sacklers’ role in the opioid crisis, emphasizing the profound societal impact their actions have had, including the widespread distribution of naloxone to combat overdoses. The discussion conveys a strong desire for accountability, highlighting the severity and scope of the damage attributed to their involvement.
6. Gemma 2: Improving Open Language Models at a Practical Size [pdf]
Link | Comments: 140 | Points: 231
Article Summary: N/A
Comments Summary: The discussion highlights the impressive performance of the Gemma 2 model, which competes well with other leading models like OpenAI’s GPT-4 in coding tasks, thanks to its straightforward and efficient response style. Enthusiasts can easily evaluate Gemma using tools like ollama and promptfoo, and the Gemma team is actively engaging with the community to gather feedback and improve user experience.
7. ID verification service for TikTok, Uber, X exposed driver licenses
Link | Comments: 160 | Points: 213
Article Summary: AU10TIX, an Israeli company providing identity verification services for major platforms like TikTok and Uber, inadvertently exposed administrative credentials online for over a year, risking unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including facial photographs and driver’s licenses. The company specializes in verifying identity documents, conducting real-time “liveness detection,” and age estimation through photo analysis, serving clients like PayPal and LinkedIn. This security lapse comes at a time when more online services, including social networks and adult sites, are adopting stringent identity verification measures to enhance user safety. The breach underscores the potential vulnerability of identity verification systems to cyberattacks, although the exposed data was not widely distributed beyond being verified by 404 Media.
Comments Summary: The discussion highlights concerns about the reliability and governance of an ID verification vendor that claimed to have fixed a credential leak 18 months ago, yet the credentials were still active recently. One commenter suggests that such vendors might primarily serve as a way for larger companies to distance themselves from blame in the event of a data breach.
8. Python grapples with Apple App Store rejections
Link | Comments: 67 | Points: 200
Article Summary: Python’s transition from version 3.11 to 3.12 has encountered challenges with Apple’s App Store, leading to app rejections due to the presence of the string “itms-services” in Python’s standard library. This issue sparked a debate among Python developers on whether accommodating app store policies should influence Python’s design, with discussions exploring solutions like obfuscation, configuration files, and a build-time option to comply with app store requirements. A proposed solution, set to be implemented in Python 3.13, includes a build-time option “–with-app-store-compliance” to remove problematic code, aiming to streamline Python apps’ compatibility with app stores without extensive patching. This situation highlights the ongoing tension between open-source software development and the restrictive environments of commercial app stores, underscoring the complexities developers face in adapting to external platform rules.
Comments Summary: The comment thread highlights the challenges developers face with major operating systems like Apple and Windows when trying to distribute and run Python applications, attributing issues to the stringent policies of these platforms that often prevent small developers from operating unless they have expensive certifications. Additionally, the discussion includes a proposed solution to handle similar issues in open-source software, suggesting temporary workarounds that involve pushing back against large corporations to encourage them to address the underlying problems.
9. CriticGPT: Finding GPT-4’s mistakes with GPT-4
Link | Comments: 168 | Points: 189
Article Summary: N/A
Comments Summary: In the comment thread, there’s a discussion about the application of Paul Christiano’s Iterated Amplification concept in AI, reflecting both skepticism and support for innovative methodologies in AGI safety. Additionally, comments delve into the nuances of language model outputs, debating whether inaccuracies should be labeled as “hallucinations,” and expressing a desire for more theoretical research on this phenomenon in the field of AI.
10. Launch HN: Hatchet (YC W24) – Open-source task queue, now with a cloud version
Link | Comments: 77 | Points: 184
Article Summary: N/A
Comments Summary: In the discussion about Hatchet’s new open-source task queue, one commenter questions the need for a specialized service over a basic queue system they could implement themselves. Another explains the role of RabbitMQ in their system despite emphasizing PostgreSQL, highlighting the complexity and scalability handled by RabbitMQ for specific tasks, while the core queue functionality relies on PostgreSQL.
11. gRPC: The Bad Parts
Link | Comments: 179 | Points: 175
Article Summary: gRPC, a high-performance RPC framework developed by Google, excels in performance and language support but faces criticism for its complexity and steep learning curve, particularly in simple RPC implementations and mandatory code generation. Its initial reliance on HTTP/2 limited compatibility with web environments, although improvements like gRPC-Web have been introduced to address these issues. Despite its robust streaming capabilities, gRPC’s lack of standardized approaches for handling large messages and JSON mapping has hindered its accessibility and integration with other systems. However, ongoing updates and community tools like the Buf CLI are enhancing gRPC’s usability and addressing many of its early shortcomings, demonstrating a commitment to evolving the framework.
Comments Summary: The discussion highlights mixed feelings about gRPC, pointing out its complexity and ecosystem impenetrability, which limits its adoption to languages supported by Google, and creates challenges in smaller projects or less supported languages. While some praise gRPC for its robustness and ability to handle multiple language bindings efficiently, others find its tooling cumbersome and have opted for simpler alternatives like JSON-RPC to meet their needs.
12. Open Sourcing Kinopio
Link | Comments: 38 | Points: 163
Article Summary: On the 5th anniversary of Kinopio, its creator Pirijan has decided to open-source the kinopio-client app, allowing users to run and modify it on their own devices. The app is lightweight, roughly 220kb, and could fit on a floppy disk in a hypothetical internet-free world, highlighting its efficiency and simplicity. Pirijan shares the code to demonstrate the effort behind Kinopio and foster appreciation for its craftsmanship, despite the inherent risks of public code such as potential unauthorized commercial use. He hopes the community will contribute to its development, maintaining a constructive and respectful collaboration environment.
Comments Summary: The comment thread highlights the creator’s innovative use of Kinopio in a “Uses This” interview and his surprising co-founding role at Glitch, sparking interest in his creative and professional background. Additionally, there’s admiration for the integration of Hirō Isono’s artwork, which adds a unique visual element to the discussion.